Cannot add new search engines to search bar
I click Manage Search Engines, then Get more search engines. It takes me to the Firefox page, and after a search I find e.g., Dictionary.com or duckduckgo. However, when I click the button "add to firefox" it gives me an error message saying I must be using a Mozilla based browser to add a search engine. Similarly, if I go to youtube.com, it doesn't offer the option of adding the cite to the search (and their help documentation says it should). Thing is, I am using Firefox and when I'm not using Firefox, I'm using Waterfox -both Mozilla based. So then why do I get this error and how can I circumvent it? I doesn't happen with any other Firefox addons or extensions.
All Replies (3)
Hi,
Please check if this happens in Safe Mode.
Troubleshooting Extensions and Themes
Safe mode disables the installed Extensions, and themes (Appearance) in Tools (Alt + T) > Add-ons. Hardware acceleration is also temporarily disabled - the manual setting is Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Use hardware acceleration when available. Options > Advanced. All these settings/add-ons can also be individually or collectively disabled/enabled/changed in Firefox normal mode to check if an extension, theme or hardware acceleration is causing issues.
You can also try to add a web site that offers a search engine, by clicking on the drop-down arrow on the left side of the search bar and Add ... For eg. on this page you would get an additional option to Add Firefox Help.
Adding a website via the drop down menu on the left doesn't work - it isn't offered as an option, even in safe mode. However, searching Firefox add-ons and adding a new search from there works now. Is there anyway to make it work so that I don't have to convert to safe mode? Also, why does safe mode fix it? What was interfering with Firefox's ability to know I was running it?
Modified by luckystar447
You can also try a new profile. If it's okay, you can later copy the needed personal data from the old profile. Firefox stores your personal data and settings in another location separate from its files/folder. A new profile would have the default Firefox settings (Tools (Alt + T) > Options, and about:config ), and usually would also be empty of any Extensions and themes (Appearance) in Tools > Add-ons) and their settings. Also, a new profile would have no previous stored website data/settings etc., (Tools > Clear Recent History).